The Universe Next Door by James W. Sire

Reviewed by Josh Hickok

     James W. Sire gives an overview of many of the worldviews we may come into contact with in our lifetimes.  He has a remarkable style of writing, the best of which is his readability.  He never gets very technical, so someone in middle school could even get a great deal from it.  This is not to say, however, that there is no “meat” for the educated.  He gives piercing insights of the basics of Christian theism, deism, naturalism, postmodernism and much more.  For someone looking to explain something seemingly academic to the average laymen, go no further.

     He starts off each chapter with a short clip of a famous proponent of the worldview, or something that rings a little poetic about its basic tenets.  For example, when he begins the chapter on existentialism, he gives a snippet of its most famous advocate, Mr. Sartre:

“Every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness and dies by chance.  I leaned back and closed my eyes.  The images, forewarned, immediately leaped up and filled my closed eyes with existence: existence is a fullness which man can never abandon…I knew it was the World, the naked World suddenly revealing itself, and I choked with rage at this gross absurd being.”

     He then goes through its basic makeup and historical positions.  Then, very smoothly he offers a mild criticism which makes one feel comfortable with his level of expertise.  He obviously wants to inform people rather than having them memorize a few arguments showing positions inconsistencies.  Perhaps he understands that there must be a certain kindness and understanding if you truly are concerned about ones eternal destiny. With kindness and respect indeed.

     Sire adeptly handles the New Age Movement in a section that, by itself, is worth the price of purchase.  Thankfully, he has revised this part to keep it contemporary. In fact, because of its success as a “worldview catalogue”, it now is in its fourth edition at the time of this writing.  This is important because New Age religions consistently evolve and change (if it makes sense to say something is always changing).  Perceiving the dangers of what this lifestyle means for Christians, he gives many examples of its shortcomings with great respect to its adherents.

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Rating:

(10 out of 10)

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